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'Raising the Cup' schedule for July 26-30

Every weekday throughout July and August, the NHL Network-U.S. will air a special series, "35 Years of Stanley Cup Clinchers, 1975-2010." Fans can watch a re-broadcast of Stanley Cup-clinching games from season's past with a chance to vote for their top five contests. Those top five games -- Fans' Choice Encores -- will air from Aug. 23-27.

The Oilers captured their fifth Stanley Cup in seven years (and their first since trading Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles in 1988), defeating Boston for their second Stanley Cup triumph against the Bruins in three seasons.

The two teams battled for 55:13 of overtime in Game 1 at Boston Garden before Edmonton's Petr Klima ended the marathon encounter with the game-winner. It represented the longest overtime in Stanley Cup Final history, edging the previous mark of 53:50, set in Game 3 of the 1931 series between Chicago and Montreal.

Edmonton goaltender Bill Ranford, who posted all 16 of his team's victories in the postseason, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

The Penguins captured their first Stanley Cup, defeating the Minnesota North Stars in six games. The North Stars were making their second appearance in the Final.

Pittsburgh center Mario Lemieux, despite missing one game in the series due to a back injury, recorded 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in five games to lead all scorers. His overall playoff performance earned him Conn Smythe Trophy honors.

Penguins defenseman Larry Murphy tallied 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists) in six games, the second-highest total for a defenseman in Stanley Cup Final history.

The Penguins captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup, winning the championship in four games against the Chicago Blackhawks, who were making their first appearance in the Final since 1973.

Both finalists established a new record for consecutive playoff wins with 11. The Blackhawks' victories spanned the first three rounds of the playoffs. The Penguins' 11 wins included their four-game Final series sweep.

Mario Lemieux captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP for the second straight year, becoming just the second player in NHL history (Bernie Parent, 1974-75) to accomplish the feat.Thursday, July 29
1993: Los Angles at Montreal, Game 5Video Highlights

The Montreal Canadiens claimed their 24th Stanley Cup, defeating the Los Angeles Kings in an exciting five-game series. The Kings, led by playoff scoring leader Wayne Gretzky, were making their first appearance in the Final. After dropping the opening game of the series at home, Montreal responded with four straight wins, including three in overtime.

The overtime wins capped a record-setting extra-time performance for Montreal. After losing their first overtime game of the playoffs at Quebec in Game 1 of the opening round, the club posted 10 straight wins in extra time, setting playoff records for most OT wins in one season and most consecutive OT wins. Of the 85 games played in the 1993 playoffs, 28 were decided in overtime, smashing the previous playoff record of 16, set in 1982 and 1991.

Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, posting a 16-4 record and 2.13 goals-against average in 20 games. Roy became the fifth two-time winner of the award, having previously won as a rookie in 1986.

The New York Rangers ended their 54-year Stanley Cup drought with a stirring, seven-game series win against the Vancouver Canucks. The Rangers jumped to a 3-1 series lead, only to see the Canucks storm back with two wins, forcing a deciding Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Viewed by a record television audience worldwide, the Rangers earned a 3-2 win and the Stanley Cup.

Both the Rangers and Canucks followed a difficult route to the championship series. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Rangers were stretched to the limit by the New Jersey Devils before prevailing in seven games, with three games in the series decided in double-overtime. The Canucks, meanwhile, had faced a 3-1 series deficit in their first-round series against the Calgary Flames, but rallied to win the last three games in overtime.

Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch became the first U.S.-born player to capture the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Leetch led all players in scoring during the postseason with 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 23 games. Coach Mike Keenan, in his first season behind the Rangers bench, captured his first Stanley Cup. He previously had made championship series appearances with the Philadelphia Flyers (1985, 1987) and Chicago Blackhawks (1992).